The chill night air carried a sound to his ears. Off in the distance, on the bluff south of this hill, a man's low voice spoke a few words, then another voice answered. He heard a boot crunch on gravel. A door slam.
The hair on the back of his neck lifted.
He raised his head, and his ears felt as if they were opening wider, to take in everything that came to him. The noises were all faint; no pale eyes would even have noticed them.
"What is it?" said Nancy.
The sounds seemed to come from the town. Who would be up so long after midnight?
"Some men talking, a long way off." He listened for the space of a few breaths. "I don't hear anything now."
Victor, he decided, was making him overly fearful.
Nancy said, "If Redbird does come to live with you, what will become of you and me?" She took his hand in both of hers, stroking his fingers. "I love you, Auguste. Now more than ever. Before, my life depended on you. Now I know that I love you of my own free will."
"And I love you, Nancy."
"But you love Redbird too. More than me."